# NTSB NYC97LA106: Piper PA-17, N4832H, Mansfield, MA, June 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 1997, 10:24 local (14:24 UTC) - Place: Mansfield, MA - Location: 42.0009° N, 71.1980° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MANSFIELD MUNI (1B9), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0009&lon=-71.1980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39367 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39367/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA106 ## Probable cause The inadequate procedure for hand-prop starting of the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - starting engine(s) - starting procedure - improper, other person (cause) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger had flown to the airport earlier to have breakfast. While preparing for engine start the pilot noted that the engine was still '...hot.' He stated that the engine was difficult to start when warm and that it flooded quickly if not started right away. The pilot said the passenger hand-propped the airplane unsuccessfully 8 to 10 times and the engine flooded. The pilot stated that he turned the magneto switch to 'off,' pushed the throttle in, and instructed the passenger to pull the propeller through backwards 12 times to clear the flooded engine. The pilot stated: 'At this point a guy walks up and says, 'I'll take it from here.' The guy yelled, 'mags off!', and I yelled 'mags off, but wait a minute!' He was way too close to the spinner. He pulled it through, I heard this 'clunk', and he fell down out of my view. The airplane did not start. We got out of the plane and saw that it hit his left knee. A witness who observed the pilot and passenger as they attempted to handprop start the engine described their actions as 'extremely thorough and conscientious.' According to the witness, the other person came over. The pilot waved him away, but he pulled the propeller through.. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 1997, at 1024 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-17, N4832H, received minor damage when the propeller struck the person hand propping the engine during engine start at the Mansfield Airport, Mansfield, Massachusetts The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The person who pulled the propeller through suffered serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he and the passenger had flown to Mansfield for breakfast. When preparing for engine start, prior to departure from Mansfield, the pilot noted that the engine was still "...hot." He stated that the engine was difficult to start when warm and that it flooded quickly if not started right away. The pilot said the passenger hand-propped the airplane unsuccessfully 8 to 10 times and the engine flooded. The pilot stated that he turned the magneto switch to "OFF", pushed the throttle in, and instructed the passenger to pull the propeller through backwards 12 times to clear the flooded engine. The pilot stated: "At this point a guy walks up and says, 'I'll take it from here.' The guy yelled, "Mags off!', and I yelled 'Mags off, but wait a minute!' He was way too close to the spinner. He pulled it through, I heard this 'clunk', and he fell down out of my view. The airplane did not start. We got out of the plane and saw that it hit his left knee. He just went too quick. [The passenger] wasn't even in the seat. There's a sequence you go through when you hand prop an airplane." During an interview, a witness reported that he was intrigued by the airplane and had come over to watch the start, taxi, and takeoff. He said he was immediately impressed with the pilot and passenger of N4832H. He stated that the pair was extremely thorough and conscientious. The witness said he was impressed by the woman hand-propping the airplane and that it was clear "...she really knew what she was doing." He said that after approximately three attempts to start the airplane, the woman started turning the propeller backwards. He further said: "At that point the victim came over. He was fairly insistent, kind of take charge ... intimidating. The pilot waved him away but he pulled the prop through. I was shocked he just walked over and did this. I think maybe he suffered from complacency. Maybe he couldn't handle that a woman was hand propping the airplane, but those two really knew what they were doing. They were very thorough and cautious." The pilot reported that he gave his passenger formal instruction on the hand-propping of his airplane and that she had performed this job successfully for 2 years. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4832H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4832H-2018-02-16), registration cancelled 2018-02-16, S/N 17-130, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-17 - Registry model: [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (registry code 7101702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17-130 - Airframe hours: 3400 - Engines: Continental C-90-14F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter A. Fellman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: 1B9 - Destination: CQX, CHATAM, MA - Airport: 1B9, Mansfield Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 375 total, 275 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOS, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970607046219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970607046219A), Jun 7, 1997: Piper PA17, Mansfield, MA, No damage. (-23) See attached NTSB preliminary report, aviation. (No narrative attached). From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.